How to upload a video to Vidyard

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Brendan O'Driscoll
Who Can Use This Feature?
Self-Service Plans
Free Pro Plus
Business Plans
Essentials Growth Enterprise
On Business plans, users must have the Create Videos & Playlists permission enabled.

The easiest way to get started with Vidyard is to upload a file from your computer.

If you're a member of a Vidyard account with multiple users (Plus or Business plans), uploading allows you to easily contribute to your team's growing library of content.

Upload your files

  1. Sign in to your Vidyard account, then select Library
  2. Select NewUpload from the top-right corner of your library Vidyard library with new video dropdown open and upload option selected
  3. When prompted, choose a file to upload from your computer
    • Tip: hold down Command (⌘) or Shift (⇧) to select and upload multiple files from your computer at once
    Mac file selector allowing user to choose file to upload to Vidyard library

Using drag and drop

Tired of clicking through folders and menus on your computer? Easily upload multiple video or audio files with drag and drop.

  1. Sign in to vidyard.com in a browser tab, then select Library
  2. Click and drag a file from your computer onto the browser window where you're signed in
  3. Done – let Vidyard handle the rest

Vidyard library with drag and drop window open and ready for files

Upload to a specific folder

Applies to: users in Plus, and Business accounts (Essentials, Growth, Enterprise)


If you belong to an account on a Plus or Business plan, you can organize the video and audio files that you upload in folders. Folders in Vidyard work just like folders on your computer; they help you stay organized and manage your library with other members of your team. 

Navigate to the folder where you want to add a new file, then select NewUpload or drag and drop into your library.

Vidyard library with focus on folder names at top of page, new video dropdown open with upload selected

Uploading on mobile

Have videos on your mobile device? Download the Vidyard mobile app to upload video files from your phone.

  1. Open the Vidyard app on your mobile device
  2. Select the camera to create a new video, then select the Upload icon
    • You may be prompted to allow Vidyard to access media on your device
  3. Choose a video file from your device to upload

Supported video file types

Vidyard supports a wide range of video files commonly used on the web. A file consists of a container (like an .mp4) and a codec. Below is a list of some of the common containers/codecs that work nicely with Vidyard, but it is by no means an exhaustive list:

Containers WEBM, MP4, MKV, MOV
Codecs H264, H265, VP8, VP9
Note: Videos with multiple audio tracks must be uploaded in H.264/AAC as an .mp4


File size and video length

  • You can upload files with a maximum size of 20GB
  • The length of the video must not exceed 24 hours

Recommended encoding settings

Prior to uploading, you are not required to export your video with explicit settings from a third-party editing program like Adobe Premier, Camtasia, or others – settings like the video/audio codecs, frame rates, container, and bitrates.

Instead, when you upload to Vidyard, we encode your video for you and prepare it for the highest quality playback on the web and across devices. You can learn more about our specific encoding outputs here.

However, if you need some guidance, we recommend the following video settings for a smooth upload. These specifications closely align with our own encoding outputs.

Media Setting
Container
  • MP4
  • If audio-only file (like a podcast), we recommend MP3
Video
  • H264
  • Progressive (de-interlaced)
  • Framerate 25fps → 60 fps
  • Bitrate 5mbps → 8mbps
Audio
  • AAC
  • 2-channel stereo
  • Sample rate 48khz
  • Bitrate 128kbps → 384kbps

Trouble uploading a video?

  • Check your internet connection. Uploading relies on a steady connection to ensure the file can be passed to Vidyard.
  • Update your browser. Make sure you're using a browser that Vidyard supports and that you're using the latest version. We want to ensure you're not running into any compatibility issues.

  • Clear your cache and then restart your browser. Your browser cache stores data from the websites you have visited, which can affect site and app functionality. Learn how to clear your browser's cache:
  • Review our recommended encoding settings.
        • If your video doesn't fit within these guidelines, run the file through a third-party transcoder, like Handbrake, to update the video's codec, file type, and other specifications
        • Handbrake is free and allows you to convert video to most commonly supported formats and codecs.
        • You can also re-export the video with different settings from your own editing software, like Adobe Premier or Camtasia. 
Still struggling to upload? Reach out to our Support Team with the file that you're trying to upload. We'll take a closer look.


Frequently asked questions

Can I upload podcasts and other audio to Vidyard?

Yes, you can upload audio-only files (like MP3s) to your library to easily host and share media like sound clips or podcasts. Like videos, you can add captions and calls-to-action (CTAs), change who can access your audio, plus many other features and settings.

However, there are a few exceptions with audio-only files:

  • Thumbnails are limited to a stylized static or animated image, unless you upload your own custom image.
  • The video player cannot be turned into a "compact version" for playing audio-only media. We also do not provide an "audio visualization" with the player.
  • You cannot use trim on audio-only files. Edit these files in another program before uploading the finalized version to Vidyard.
  • Vidyard does not support RSS feeds to distribute audio-only files like podcasts.

Need support

Submit a ticket or start a chat. We'll provide a self-serve resource or connect you with our support team, available 24x5.

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